Lock for boxes



Sept. 20, 1932. A. E. BANASIK LOOK FOR BOXES Filed Feb. 16. 1951 Ihwentor A. lffianaqik attorney Patented Sept. 20, 1932 umrsnc srArss ALOIS n. BANASIK, or AMARILLQ, TEXAS; lemma-mp cnown a cownn. and, or

AMARILLO, TEXAS, let CORPORATION or rnxns LOCK non oxes Application filed February is, 1931. ;Serial1\T o. 5;16,1-$ B1.

This invention relates tolooks of more or less general application but is especially intended for use in securing the lids on meter boxes, and is designed to be operated by a key so as to prevent unauthorized tampering with the meters.

An object of the invention resides in the construction of a lock of extremely few parts and yet which is strong and reliable in operation and can be manufactured at low cost.

A further object of the invention consists in so designing the lock as to avoid the necessity of casting lugs or the like on the lid to secure the bolts in place.

A still further object of the invention'resides in the provision of a key-operated lock of this type in which the key cannot be. withdrawn until the bolts of the lock have moved to locking position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a meter box lid with the novel locking construction mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the lid mounted on the meter box, the upper portion of the latter being indicated in dotted outline.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the lid, taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1; and 7 Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on line 4lof Figure, 1.

Referring to the drawing in more detail the numeral 1 indicates a conventional type of meter box provided with an inwardly directed flange 2 on which the lid 3 is seated. In the particular construction shown the effective ends of the locking bolts are received under the flange 2 when the bolt-s are in locking position, but it is to be understood that the flange is not essential-to the invention since the ends of the-bolts could as well be projected into openings in the side wall of the receptacle.

The lid 3 in the, construction shown herein is provided with a central boss or post 4: on its under side and also an annular flange 5,

which elements serve to support thelOcking mechanism on theunder .sideofthe lid.

This locking mechanism consists essen tially of four parts,-namely, a, linkfi, two bolts 7 and 8, and atens'ion spring9. "The bolts 7 and 8 ar pre bly m d f 701 47 6 fcold rolled g'alvanized steel, while the link 6 is prefferablymadeof brass, and thespi'ing 9 of any preferred non-corrosive metal. By

constructing the several parts of the locking mechanism'of these metals ortheir equival ;t 'p ib ypf e f r ati i rus would tend to. render the lock inoperative,i s eliminated;

whic

' Theflink 6 is p-ivotally mounted on the central boss orpost ,4: and'is retainedthereon by means of a cotter'pin 10. .QThe opposite ends of the link are provided with apertures 11, and inthese apertures are received tliedownturned ends 12' and 13 formedon the inner endsoffthebolts 7'and 8. *The'opposite ends of the bolts are preferably extended through apertures "14 formed in the flange 5 ,of the lid, and it will thus be apparent that the" "bolts?and8 are snpportedat their inner to' normally project the bolts into their a lockingp0s1tion, has one-end anchored-to the ';lin'kf6 and its opposite end anchore'd tothe under side of'the-lid as by means 'of-the apertured lug 15. 1

In order to make use of a key in moving the bolts "7 and l 8 to inoperative position, the bolt 8 is provided with a substantially U- therefore, that by the insertion 'ofalkey in and outer ends by the j link 6 and the flange i "5, 1 respectively. The spring -9 which serves shaped key receiving bend "16 substantially "midway'betweenits ends. The -lid is provided with a keyls lo-t '17 substantially V "alignment with the "U-shaped bend in the :bolt '8'and with stops 18 and 19 mounted onxtfhe under sid'eof the lid to limit the movement ii of the keyin one direction 'andthe bolt Sin 1 the opposite direction. it- Will be apparent,

Tfore be removed.

In the operation of the device the movement of the key to withdraw the bolt 8 causes a similar movement of the bolt 7 by reason of its connection with thelink 6. This movement of the bolts withdraws the same from beneath the flange 2 of the receptacle and thus permits the lidto be readily removed.

When it is desired to replace the lid the-key must be again operated to withdraw the bolts to permit the passage of their ends downwardly past the flange f the receptacle. If the key is now released the spring 9 will project the bolts outwardly until the U- shaped port-ion 16 engages the lug 19 on the under side of the lid, in which positions the bolts are engaged under ,the,flange 2 to lock of, a spring having its ends secured to said the lid in place. When the bolts 7 y and 8 are thus positioned the operating key is returned into alignment withtheslotl'? and can there- From theYforegoing description taken in,

connection with the accompanying drawing .it willbe apparent that I have devised an exceedingly simple construction of closure "F the construction is'capableof being manufactured at a'relatively low cost; that itis strong and durable in operation;- thatfcby reason of the particul'ar design of .the lock the necessity for-casting lugs orother supporting means-on the lid is entirely elimilockcomposed ofionly tour'elements;,that. I

ated; that thelock is so constructed as to :prevent the withdrawal of thekey unless the Z v locking bolts are, first moved to locking posiv x tion; and that while the lock is shown as 'co- 7 operating with a flange formed on the recep I v tacle, it is also intended for general application, 7,

have described. what I now believe to be the preferred'form of the invention,: but inas- In accordance withthe patent statutes I much as various'minor changes maybe made J i in thegdetails of construction without de- 3 rparting from the spirit of the invention,it

is intended that such changes beincluded withinthe scope of the appended claims.

hat I claim is:

I 1. Ina device of the class described, a v

.lid, a flangeon the undersideof the lid, a 7 pair ofbolts having their outer ends extending through openings in said flange, a pivotally-mounted linkon the under side of the lid, the inner ends of said bolts being pivotally connected to the, ends of said link, a U -shaped key-receiving bend formed in one of said bolts, said lid provided with a keyreceiving slot in alignment with said key- 1 receiving bend; i

. ZJ-Ina device-of the class described, a lid,

a flange on t he;underside of the lid, a pair of bolts formed with :downturned inner ends provided with an aperture in each end thereand having their outer ends extending c I through apertures infsaid flange, a pivotally mounted linkon. the under side of the lid 

